Comments on: Relationships with Random Strangers http://jordanbrock.com/2009/06/02/relationships-with-random-strangers/ Pith Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:28:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: jordanbrock http://jordanbrock.com/2009/06/02/relationships-with-random-strangers/comment-page-1/#comment-352 jordanbrock Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:13:37 +0000 http://jordanbrock.com/?p=459#comment-352 Yeah, it's funny that what was inherently viewed as an anti-social behaviour (spending long hours on the computer) is in fact opening up new ways of experiencing emotions. <br><br>The other thing that weirds me out is when you try to refer to these people in another conversation. You say "these people I know" or "some friends on the internet", but you're not friends, but you feel as though you are. One day someone will come up with a term for those (non) relationships. Yeah, it's funny that what was inherently viewed as an anti-social behaviour (spending long hours on the computer) is in fact opening up new ways of experiencing emotions.

The other thing that weirds me out is when you try to refer to these people in another conversation. You say “these people I know” or “some friends on the internet”, but you're not friends, but you feel as though you are. One day someone will come up with a term for those (non) relationships.

]]> By: Ben Buchanan http://jordanbrock.com/2009/06/02/relationships-with-random-strangers/comment-page-1/#comment-351 Ben Buchanan Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:28:02 +0000 http://jordanbrock.com/?p=459#comment-351 A few years ago I started posting my photos in a livejournal group; and found one guy in particular often gave me really really useful critiques. He was so generous with his time; and clearly a professional who probably had a lot of work to do... i was really grateful. I ended up adding him to my friends list - <a href="http://kylecassidy.livejournal.com/" rel="nofollow">http://kylecassidy.livejournal.com/</a><br><br>Over time a certain girl started appearing far more often in his photos - in between all the photos of politicians, cats, vegan food and fetish models (not making that up). We knew something was up, and recently we finally got the "yay we got married in secret!" post. i really was pleased, like glowing happy-for-friends pleased, and the closest i've come to meeting kyle was trading an email or two.<br><br>i think it's entirely possible to feel joy and sadness as we watch the lives of strangers online. there are humans on the other ends of all these wires... A few years ago I started posting my photos in a livejournal group; and found one guy in particular often gave me really really useful critiques. He was so generous with his time; and clearly a professional who probably had a lot of work to do… i was really grateful. I ended up adding him to my friends list – http://kylecassidy.livejournal.com/

Over time a certain girl started appearing far more often in his photos – in between all the photos of politicians, cats, vegan food and fetish models (not making that up). We knew something was up, and recently we finally got the “yay we got married in secret!” post. i really was pleased, like glowing happy-for-friends pleased, and the closest i've come to meeting kyle was trading an email or two.

i think it's entirely possible to feel joy and sadness as we watch the lives of strangers online. there are humans on the other ends of all these wires…

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